Arete Hostel simplifies guest access and safety with Cloudbeds & devicethread

Set in the heart of West Virginia, Arete is more than a place to stay. It’s a home base for climbers, hikers, and adventurers drawn to the New River Gorge — and to the sense of community that comes with it. With a rustic-modern design and a welcoming, hostel-style atmosphere, Arete was built to bring people together.

But as the property grew, so did the operational complexity behind the scenes. Managing frequent guest turnover, shared spaces, and room access safely — without adding friction for staff or guests — became a real challenge.

To support that growth, Arete paired Cloudbeds PMS with devicethread to implement SmartAccess, a keyless, contactless, and appless solution that automated security while maintaining affordability for an independent property.

Like many independent properties, Arete started with a hands-on approach to access management. Staff manually updated lock codes for each guest, a process that was time-consuming, hard to scale, and increasingly risky as the volume of guests increased.

The team knew this wasn’t sustainable — or aligned with the experience they wanted to create.

“We needed something where guests felt safe and weren’t just getting recycled codes,” explains Johnny. “And something we wouldn’t be underwater on financially.”

Through Cloudbeds’ integration marketplace, the team partnered with devicethread to implement SmartAccess, a keyless, contactless, and appless solution that automated security while maintaining affordability for an independent property.

Now, every booking in Cloudbeds automatically triggers a unique, secure access code that’s sent to the guest ahead of arrival. No keys to track. No manual updates. No extra steps for staff.

The result is a fully contactless, appless experience that works quietly in the background — exactly how good hospitality tech should. And if there are any issues, Devicethreads’ renowned customer support ensures these are quickly resolved. 

Johnny recalls a time when the team noticed a slight delay in how the locks responded to code entry and devicethread’s 24/7 support team responded right away. They got on a call, investigated the issue, and coordinated directly with the lock manufacturer. Within days, a firmware update was rolled out, making the system feel noticeably faster and more reliable almost overnight.

Today, Arete runs leaner, safer, and with far less friction.

Guests arrive with everything they need already in place — a secure, personalized access code and a smooth arrival experience. 

Staff no longer juggle lock management or worry about security gaps. Instead, they can focus on what makes Arete special: connection, community, and memorable stays.

“Automation lets you offload the noise,” Johnny says, “so you can actually enjoy your work — and show up for the people around you.”

See a SmartAccess live demo